Coroner to investigate Maclean arcade fire

by cmorton

Clair Morton
Journalist
Although I’ve moved around a bit, I’m a Queensland girl at heart with a love of the ocean and the mighty maroons. Since moving to Grafton earlier this year I have fallen in love with the Valley lifestyle. The best part of my job here is getting to know the locals and putting their stories on paper; there is always something going on and so many people with interesting tales to tell.

THE investigation into the fire which gutted Cameron's Arcade in Maclean has been handed over to the coroner.

Forensics, detectives and Fire and Rescue NSW made a number of inquiries at the address yesterday to determine the cause of Saturday night's blaze, which affected four businesses in the arcade.

Grafton duty officer Inspector Tony Milner said those inquiries have now been forwarded to the coroner at Maclean, who will hand down a decision.

Insp Milner said it was standard for fires which cause more than $100,000 worth of damage to go to the coroner.

Maclean Fire and Rescue NSW captain Darrell Shaw said early indications were that the fire had started in a shop at the rear of the building and spread from there.

"It's an old building so it's unfortunate," he said.

"There are four businesses that have lost their stock and businesses.

"Not much would be saveable, what was left was smoke-damaged or waterlogged."

Meanwhile, as emergency services worked to contain the arcade fire on Saturday, another fire was reportedly lit at the Maclean Showgrounds.

Maclean Show president Brian Ferrie said he received a call at about 2am from one of the RV campers to tell him a group of people were having a "wild" party at the showgrounds.

As well as allegedly abusing people that were camped at the grounds, poles that latched the stable doors had been burnt, Mr Ferrie said.

He said bottles, cans, clothing and an Esky were strewn across the grounds and the public toilet block was "trashed". "They've done some destruction and left a hell of a mess," he said. "They didn't do much damage in the way of value but in inconvenience... It's all fixed up now but it shouldn't have happened."